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Engine wiring harness safety recall (model year 2016–2018)

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JosephG, Sep 5, 2018.

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  1. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    If mine showed bare copper and any broken wires I would want the harness replaced. If copper shows but no broken wires I would be OK with liquid electrical tape over the damaged wires and then tape over the repaired area. A sleeve of thick protective material over the whole area would be last.

    The reason I wouldn't want the harness replace would be if it is a complicated process more harm could be done poking around and create more problems than it is worth.

    I don't know if Toyota will give you any choice in the matter.
     
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  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    My harness just has damage in the outer tape, as far as I can tell. I think my local dealer could tape it up but I would not trust them to replace the harness properly.
     
    #62 Prodigyplace, Sep 10, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2018
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  3. UltraJetRefill

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    That's my concern as well.
     
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  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    No - they'll be given parameters which they have to work within.
     
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  5. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    My trusted dealer is 150 miles away but I have never used their service department.
     
  6. Huntceet

    Huntceet Junior Member

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    I had the J0T recall done yesterday by my facing dealer. Took 45 minutes but they did a 5K as well so no telling how long the recall took.They inspected and taped the area of concern.
     
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  7. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Called in at my dealers yesterday and they had no clue about it, even though it is showing on the UK's Toyota recall checker. They said they would let me know when they know more. Meanwhile, I have shoved a thin bit of closed cell foam rubber between the wires and the sharp edge of the lid to stop any further damage. Mine just has damage to the insulation tape as it is now, no damage to the wires.
     
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  8. JosephG

    JosephG Active Member

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    That picture looks like it's the woven PET tape. That will be much more abrasion resistant than normal PVC electrical tape so please don't try to do your own repair like I've seen some folks talking about doing. Have a Toyota dealership do it for you with the proper materials.

    The reason the original tape is vinyl is probably because vinyl is fireproof and PET is not. The tape they're using is probably treated with a fireproof adhesive or an additive to the plastic itself, but vinyl the standard for electrical applications.
     
  9. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    The remedy instructions (PDF) for this recall, at least for cars sold in the U.S., were posted today on NHTSA’s website. These instructions clarify the location of the possible damage (see page 13) and explain the three possible repairs, depending on the inspection results:
    • If no damage is found, applying Tesa 51036 tape at a specified place;
    • If damage to the harness wrap is found, but after it is removed, no copper or shielded wires are visible, re-wrapping part of the harness with Tesa 51036 tape; or
    • If more serious damage is found, replacing the complete engine wire harness.
    The latter requires draining the engine and inverter coolant and removing the inverter with converter assembly, throttle body, auxiliary battery, windshield wipers and motor, and other parts.

    It’s not discussed in the document, but when developing the remedy, Toyota would have considered that the affected part of the harness includes shielded cables. These can be repaired, of course, but the techniques are not covered in Toyota’s Wire Harness Repair Manual or Electrical Wiring Diagram and may not be among dealers’ expected capabilities.
     
  10. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Interestingly that PDF shows suspect damage area to be underneath the wiring, mine (and others shown in the posts above) has damage on the top, rubbing on the wiring cover.
     
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  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Perhaps the covers can damage top and bottom?
     
  12. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    The bottom bit looks like some sort of bracket (maybe to hold the bottom cover in place ?) and my wiring harness is well clear of that.
     
  13. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I just received my notice for my 10,000 mile check up in the mail yesterday. I don't plan on hitting that mileage until late winter or early spring of next year. If I get my recall notice I will have it done at that time. Hopefully that will be the last time it ever goes back to Toyota.

    I can't afford going in a Toyota dealership because it seems like every time I do I buy a new car. Lol
     
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  14. mark27lim

    mark27lim Active Member

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    wow ur right. it actually even goes so far as to say that damage to any other (non bottom) part of the harness should not cause any core wire exposure and does not need to be taped up. ‍♂️
     
  15. UltraJetRefill

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    Man, 'XI Replace Engine Harness' starting on p.20, does NOT give me warm fuzzies. Thanks for the link though. I guess I'd rather know than not know.

    But, all those torque specs...
     
    #75 UltraJetRefill, Sep 13, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2018
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Oy vey :eek:

    b.Cut a 100mm (3.94”) of the Tessa 51036* tape

    Oh no, not 4": 3.94". :rolleyes:
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    duck tape it, and avoid the dealer downtime
     
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  18. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Surely you recognize that as engineer talk Mendel.:p
     
  19. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Should be 3.937" to be exact :whistle:
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It is my background that ticks me off about conversions. Years back I was starting on a reclaim conveyor (conveyor in a tunnel, under a stockpile) structural layout, and the materials handling (mechanical) department had done an arrangement, indicating that in the tunnel the conveyor was to have a slope of 1.1935 degrees.

    This got me curious, and I wandered around the office for a good half hour, asking everyone involved what was the reason/origin of such an arcane angle. This materials handling arrangement had been around for some time, and no one could remember.

    A structural draftsman happened to overhear, said he recalled it was originally set as 1/4" per foot, and maybe converted to a degree. Yup...:rolleyes:
     
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